He Belongs With Me

by Sarah Darlington

“Your sister then?”

  “Maggie...” He rested his hands on his knees and leaned forward. His brown eyes stared intensely at me, looking as if I'd upset him by even asking this question. “Valerie is my child. I haven't lied to you. I don't understand what you're trying to get at, but I can assure you she's mine. Not my mom's. Not your dad's. Mine.”

  I nodded. Suddenly, my eyes and throat burned with unshed tears. Stupid me. Without even realizing it was happening, I'd let hope in. I'd thought for a second that maybe, just maybe, if Valerie wasn't his child, then that might have meant he'd continued to love me all this time. How moronic could one person be? Then another thought overtook that one. I was Maggie Ryder, for goodness’ sake! Girls wanted to be me and guys—lots of guys—wanted to date me. So why was I about to let Robby Harvey hurt me all over again?

  I could do the math. Valerie's age meant that Robby had basically gone off and screwed some other girl days after leaving me. He'd played me, and I couldn't let him do it twice.

  I stood to my feet, my confidence shooting back through me like a jolt of electricity. “I'm ready to walk out that door and out of your life forever because you left, you didn't call, and you obviously wasted no time forgetting me and finding someone else,” I said, waving my arm in the direction of Valerie’s room. “So, no. We can't be friends. But I do need to know why you changed your name. Tell me quickly, please. Tell me so I can go.”

  “Sit down,” he urged. “Please, let me explain.”

  “No.”

  He stood, his calm demeanor now gone. “Fine. My father's name was Dean. I took it after his death. There's your answer. Go if you'd like.”

  The tension in the room grew thick enough to suffocate. Robby's chest rose and fell like he'd just broken free from being held underwater. The muscles in his strong arms flexed as his hands curled at his sides. He seemed angrier than I'd ever seen him, but there was only pain in his eyes. And as much as I wanted my feet to move me toward the door, they didn't do as I commanded—and neither did my mouth.

  “I don't want to go,” I muttered.

  “I don't want you to go either,” he said, breathing in and out a few times. “I loved my dad. I never got to know him growing up. Mom kept him from me, always saying he wasn't good enough for us. Then Valerie was born. Mom didn't want to deal with another child, so she sent us both away to my father. He took us in. No questions asked. He was a loving, wonderful father, and then he died. I wanted to honor him somehow and so I changed my name. The name Robby came from some 90’s pop singer Mom had a crush on when she was growing up. I'd rather be named after my father than some boy-band member that history's already forgotten.”

  “How did he die?” I asked.

  “Heart attack.”

  Before I could comprehend what I was doing, my feet moved me across the room. Tears broke free and streamed down my face. A big part of me was still madder than a snake, but I also found myself drawn to him in some powerful way I couldn't explain. Being that Robby—or should I say, Dean—was way taller than me, I couldn't easily reach up and grab him. So, I did what any rational girl of my short stature would do. I stepped up onto the coffee table beside where he stood, firmly grabbed the sides of his face, and drew him close to me.

  Our lips connected and for one brief, amazing moment, Dean melted into me. His hands trailed up my back, pulling my body closer. His lips were warm and soft, lingering against mine, and then suddenly they were gone.

  “No,” he whispered as his hands dropped and he backed away. “I can't.”

  His rejection felt like knife to the heart. I used his shoulder as a prop to step down from the table and without another word, I turned and hurried for the door.

  CHAPTER 22

  CLARA

  I'D NEVER BELIEVED IN fate, but tonight it sure felt like the universe or some invisible force was pulling me toward Leo's house—pulling me toward the inevitable. I'd bolted from him yesterday on the subway because I'd been afraid of all these new feelings. Now...all I wanted was to embrace everything. Life was short and unpredictable—I’d learned that the day Mom died—and I couldn't let this moment pass without taking everything I wanted from it.

  Being as calm as possible, given the circumstances, I marched up the steps toward Leo's front door. I didn't bother knocking and let myself inside. Most of the lights were off and everything was eerily quiet. I set my purse and keys down, ignoring my sporadic heartbeat, and ventured deeper into his house. Déjà vu played weird tricks on my mind, and I recalled that night as a kid when I'd snuck over here with that tiny clover clutched in my hand.

  I found Leo in the den just off the foyer. The den was one of those fancy rooms that rich people had just because. It served no real purpose other than to show off priceless junk. Leo was fast asleep, curled up in the most uncomfortable position on the most uncomfortable-looking floral couch. I stepped into the room, nearly tripping over some of the junk. What the hell? Was someone redecorating? About damn time. Leo's whole house looked like a museum and needed some serious updating. I stepped over the junk and inched closer toward the couch where Leo was sleeping.

  Nothing could have prepared me for the simple sight of him. He'd fallen asleep wearing his glasses. Dark frames. Wide rims. I knew he wore contacts typically and glasses on occasion. I just didn't know something plastic could make my already pounding heart go off like a jack-hammer. Seeing him lying there, peaceful and alone in his big, empty house, took my breath away. And it wasn't just the glasses making me feel all these crazy emotions. It was the echo of his sweet words still fresh in my mind. He'd told me he loved me and that meant everything.

  His eyes flickered open to catch me staring. I probably looked like a psycho-stalker the way I was hovering over him, but there wasn't an ounce of annoyance on his face—only a vulnerability most people would try to hide. But Leo hid nothing. Somehow I'd stripped down the last of his walls and the only person left lying on that couch in front of me was Leo. The real Leo—beautiful, broken, misunderstood, sweet-as-hell Leo.

  Reaching my hand out for his, I led him out of the cluttered den, across the foyer, and up the grand staircase. No words were exchanged. Each step felt like a mile and my heart drummed so hard it beat in my ears. It was dizzying, to say the least. Leo's bedroom sat directly off the top of the stairs. Once we made it inside, I flipped the light on. I wanted to see everything that was about to happen. I also pushed the door closed behind us, locking it.

  We were alone now and the rest of the world couldn't touch us, making me feel very free and playful. I planted both of my hands on Leo's hard chest and gave him a small shove toward his white, cushy four-poster bed. He hardly budged, and when I tried a second shove, he caught my wrists against the solid wall of his chest. I pouted up at him.

  “What are you doing?” he whispered.

  “You,” I said, taking a deep breath.

  He had on the best poker face ever. Several seconds ticked by before he responded, “I don't want to rush this.”

  I tried to wiggle my hands free from where he still had them in a vice-like grip against his chest. It was no use—Leo wasn't letting me go. I stopped squirming and dared a better look up and into his eyes. They were smoldering blue, smoky and burning with anger. Wait, no. It wasn't anger. It was lust. Red-hot rip-your-clothes-off lust. Lust that my body desperately wanted to take advantage of. But Leo seemed to be fighting it. Why?

  “Who cares if we rush this?” I asked softly, trying to put whatever was bothering him at ease. “I don't. You shouldn't either. I'm not ready to say certain words out loud, but I can give you something else. I can show you how I'm feeling. Please, Leo. Let me show you. You told me on the subway to stop over-thinking and now you're doing the same exact thing. So, stop it.”

  His grip on my hands loosened, but his expression didn't soften. I wanted him and I could see in his eyes that he wanted the same, but he was still being hesitant for some reason. My hands slipped up his chest and I cupped the sides of his neck. Sta
nding on my tiptoes, I pressed my lips to his and kissed him. He kissed me back, but the kiss felt more mechanical than passionate. All his walls were building back up at an alarming rate. I needed to do something.

  My hands moved under his shirt and I traced my fingers up his clearly defined abs. He didn't have an ounce of fat on him and merely touching him made my breathing turn heavy.

  Keep calm and carry on, I told myself. I grabbed the edges of his shirt and yanked it up over his head. His glasses came off with his shirt and I tossed them both to the floor. He stood still and let me do as I pleased. Next I went for his belt buckle, unhooking it, and then his shorts. His clothing dropped unceremoniously to the ground, leaving nothing left! Leo apparently didn't wear underwear.

  My whole body started to tremble, while my eyes traced up and down Leo's naked form. I knew he'd be gorgeous underneath his clothes, but I really hadn't prepared myself for this level of perfection. I understood now what Steph had meant this morning when she called Leo “religious.” Each of his tattoos had various religious undertones. I didn't understand what they all meant, but I liked the way they complimented his lean, muscular figure. And then there was his... um, member. Well, it was just as beautiful as the rest of him. Thick, long, velvety, and very big! My eyes wanted to drift over his body forever, but then I realized...

  Holy hell, I still had on my shoes while he was buck-ass naked!

  I gulped. Hard. Then I gulped again. I dropped down to my knees, not really sure what I was doing but letting instinct take over. I'd meant what I'd said earlier. I wanted to show him how much I cared for him. I still wanted to do that. Never had I come close to doing this before, but maybe if I started to do something, it might shock Leo out of whatever the hell was wrong with him.

  My nervous fingers reached out and I took him in my hand. Daring a glance up, I found Leo watching me with a look on his face that told me he was desperate to see what I was going to do next. So I moved my hand experimentally, stroking toward the base of his length and then back toward the tip. My fingers traced with the lightest of touches. Leo moaned a guttural, almost primitive noise. Wow! I enjoyed getting that kind of a reaction out of him so I continued with my feather-light movements. I looked up at him again and—finally—a change in him had occurred. His head had dropped back and his mouth was open. He'd snapped out of whatever had been holding him hostage, and he was back to being all mine again. Go me!

  That gave me all the courage I needed. Leaning closer, I placed my lips around the head of his erection and tentatively sucked him into my mouth. My tongue moved in tiny circles around the tip. He jerked at my contact. “Whoa, killer. You don't have to do anything you don't....”

  His sentence went unfinished. He couldn't get the rest of his words out because I didn't let him. I dug my fingernails into that fine ass of his and sucked him deeper into my mouth. He said every curse word known to man, knotted his fingers through my hair, and started moving his hips to match my rhythm. I had some idea of what I was doing because I'd heard Steph and other girls discuss this kind of thing before. I'd been an active listener, but what no one had ever mentioned was how much enjoyment I could get out of it. I felt powerful, in control, and wet—really wet.

  Just when I was really starting to get the hang of things, Leo moved himself out of my mouth, grabbed the sides of my arms, and pulled my fully clothed body up against his naked one. He didn't seem to care where my mouth had just been because he pressed his lips firmly against mine, kissing me like I was his and nothing else mattered. Now this was more like it! There was nothing mechanical about this kiss, and I unquestionably fell a little deeper under his spell.

  Only when we were both breathless did he break the kiss. Leo rested his forehead against mine and stared fiercely into my eyes. A cocky smile played on his lips and all my control went flying out the freaking window. Maybe I'd been the one to start this by waking Leo, dragging his gorgeous ass upstairs, and stripping him naked, but there was no doubt in my mind that he'd be the one finishing it.

  “I need to be inside you,” he whispered in a husky growl. He pushed me so that I fell backward onto his cozy bed, his eyes stalking me like a lion ready to consume its prey. And Leo looking at me like that—while completely naked and sporting an almost painful erection—was sexy as hell. My body buzzed with excitement because I knew he was about do things to me that I'd only read about in books. I couldn't understand what had made him apprehensive before, but that version of Leo had long disappeared and the 'I'm-going-to-make-you-see-stars' Leo had replaced him.

  The first thing he did was quickly rid me of my shoes and socks. Then he yanked off my yoga pants in one quick motion. Now that those annoying articles of clothing were out the way, his pace slowed. He inched the fabric of my tank top upward, planting a trail of kisses and little licks over my newly exposed skin. He reached my bare breasts and expertly kissed each one in turn, his mouth moving slow and lingering in all the right places. Each flick of his warm tongue made my nipples pucker tighter and tighter.

  “Leo...” I half begged, half moaned. “I need... I need...”

  “I know what you need, baby,” he said, his breath hot against my skin. “I'm getting there. Hang on.”

  He pulled my tank top the rest of the way off, tossing it aside. Then he took hold of my wrists and positioned both of my hands high above my head. Rocking back on his knees, he went for my panties next. Setting a torturous pace, he slowly slipped them down my legs, leaving me completely exposed and at his mercy.

  Now that I was very naked and very turned on, Leo paused to study me. He took his sweet-ass time doing it too. His stare was intense and I instinctively moved my hands down to cover up. He placed them back above my head. “You're so damn beautiful. I always knew you would be. Let me just look for another moment.”

  Heat seared across my flesh. I expected his eyes to continue running over my body, but they never did. Instead, his gaze remained locked on mine for a few seconds that seemed to last forever. Then he leaned down, kissed my cheek, and whispered against my ear. “You're blushing. Are you sure you want to do this? We can go play Monopoly or watch a movie or argue about something stupid. Whatever you want. I'll be just as happy.”

  “Do I look like I want to play Monopoly right now?”

  I felt him smile. “No, you don't.”

  “This is what I want,” I said, my voice breathy. “I don't think I've ever wanted anything more.”

  “Good. I needed to hear you say that. Are you on birth control?”

  If he thought I was blushing before, I certainly was now. “Yes. Dad made us both go on it when he found Maggie and Robby in bed together that one time.”

  “Thank you, Robby,” he muttered. He placed both of his palms on my bare stomach, his fingers spanning the width of me. With his knees, he nudged my legs apart and then filled the space he created. He grabbed his length in one of his hands and positioned himself close to my entrance so that we were millimeters apart but not touching. And I swear, I felt just as much as if we were. The anticipation of how easily he could ease himself inside me had my body trembling all over again. Needing something to hold, I clung onto Leo's strong forearms and braced myself.

  “I don't want to wear a condom with you,” he said in a serious tone. “I don't want anything between us. I promise I'm okay. It's been well over two years since I last had sex, and I've been checked since then.”

  I didn't even care. “Whatever. Just stop teasing me.”

  “Teasing?” he asked with a sexy smile. “I can show you teasing.” His eyes latched onto mine and his hips moved carefully forward, the tip of his erection hitting my heat. Gasping in surprise, I couldn't help it when my body bucked at our light contact. Okay, I might have been wrong about not touching being just as good as touching—touching was way better.

  But Leo didn't move inside me. Instead, gripping himself in his hand, he moved his length up and down, back and forth, slipping against me and spreading my wetness all over. Then
he moved the head of his erection a little higher and brought it over my clit. He paused for a second before moving in slow, small circles. Oh, yes! He felt so warm, so perfect, and so damn sweet. My body started to quiver under his touch, begging for more, begging for him to take me higher.

  My legs spread wider for him. My fingers dug into his biceps. My eyes drifted closed. Damn, I knew I wasn't going to last much longer. Was I ready to completely let go with him? Yes, I think I was. And just as I figured this out, his deliberate movements stopped.

  My eyes snapped open.

  He smiled widely and shifted closer. “Keep still,” he whispered against my mouth. His hands moved over my body until one came to the junction of my thighs. “I'm gonna kiss you now…” He ran a finger slowly over the center of my heat. “Here.” Then he moved his body down and positioned his head between my legs, pressing his lips against my most sensitive spot.

  Oh my, Leo! My breath caught in my throat. It's hard to say what shocked me more—the heavenly feeling of his expert kisses or that Leo Maddox would ever willingly do something so selfless. But there was no time to analyze things now. I ran my fingers through my hair, desperately needing something to tug at, and let myself feel everything he was giving me. His tongue moved over me in hot strokes and his arms snaked under my thighs, angling me closer to his mouth. Deciding I had to watch him, I propped myself up on my elbows. His eyes flickered up to meet mine, and I saw that they were dark with lust, fearless, and totally in control. I always knew Leo was intense, but I’d never considered how that side of his personality would translate during sex. And man did I like it. His stare, combined with his touch, had me seconds away from falling apart.

  I'd had orgasms in the past. Twenty-one years of being a virgin meant that I'd obviously had to learn how to pleasure myself solo, but this... Holy shit! I knew that when I did fall over the edge, it would be like nothing I'd ever felt before. A flash of heat spread over my skin, but I fought it because I realized I needed more.